Examples of patterns, beyond the use of the term to mean template, are discernible regularities in the world or in a man-made design. That said, the elements in a pattern repeat themselves in a predictable way.

Any of the five senses can directly observe patterns.

Abstract patterns

Conversely, abstract patterns in science, mathematics, or language can only be observed through analysis. Direct observation, in practice, means seeing visual patterns, which are vast in nature and art.

Visual patterns in nature are often chaotic, as they never exactly repeat themselves, and very frequently involve fractals.